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"Dengue Fever an ‘Emergency’ on Hawaii’s Big Island"

"HILO, Hawaii – Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has declared a state of emergency over a dengue fever outbreak on the island of Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island.

In a declaration issued Monday, Kenoi said, “A state of emergency for Hawaii County is authorized in order to prevent the continued spread of this outbreak and to eliminate the dengue fever virus from Hawaii Island.”

As of Monday, the Hawaii State Health Department has confirmed 252 cases of dengue fever on the Big Island. Communities at greatest risk are on the west coast from the resort town of Kailua-Kona to the rural communities about 20 miles to the south."